Air drilling method using controlled split stream

ABSTRACT

A coupling for fastening together sections of an earth boring hollow auger. An outer sleeve fastened to one end of an auger section has a cavity for receiving an inner sleeve fastened to an end of an adjacent auger section. The outer sleeve has a key welded thereto and extending into a bayonet slot on the outer surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is rotated so that its welded key is slipped into a side portion of the bayonet slot. A loose key is slipped through the outer sleeve into the remaining open space of the bayonet slot locking and coupling the adjacent sections axially and radially. Helical flights extending around each section and sleeve automatically match when the sections are coupled together.

United States Patent Henson [54] AIR DRILLING METHOD USING CONTROLLED SPLIT STREAM William P. Henson, Indianapolis, Ind.

Mobile Drilling Company, Inc., Indianapolis, lnd.

[22] Filed: May 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 36,279

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl.

[451 May 23, 1972 3,153,547 10/1964 Chancellor etal ..285/402X 3,190,377 6/1965 Rassieur ..175/323X Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT A coupling for fastening together sections of an earth boring hollow auger. An outer sleeve fastened to one end of an auger section has a cavity for receiving an inner sleeve fastened to an end of an adjacent auger section. The outer sleeve has a key welded thereto and extending into a bayonet slot on the outer surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is rotated so that its welded key is slipped into a side portion of the bayonet slot. A loose key is slipped through the outer sleeve into the remaining open space of the bayonet slot locking and coupling the adjacent sections axially and radially. Helical flights extending around each section and sleeve automatically match when the sections are coupled together.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 23 I972 saw 2 [1F 3 Fig.6.

INVENTOR VVILLIAM P Hmsa/y Fig. 3.

MW,MM M WW5 ATTORNEYS AIR DRILLING METHOD USING CONTROLLED SPLIT STREAM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a coupling for a hollow auger.

2. Description of the Prior Art Certain types of hollow augers are used in various earth drilling applications wherein it is necessary or desirable to provide a smooth constant diameter passage through the auger to the bottom of the hole. Possibly the most important such application is that of earth sampling. In certain situations, it is desirable to take samples at intervals for a substantial distance down into the earth. Thus, a plug may be positioned in the lower end of the hollow auger to prevent earth from moving up into the auger during the drilling operation. When the lower end of the hollow auger has arrived at a desired depth for taking the sample, the plug is removed from the hollow interior of the auger and sampling tools are inserted down through the auger to obtain the samples. It can be appreciated that it is desirable that the interior of the hollow auger be smooth with no obstructions so that the sampling tools can be easily and conveniently moved through the hollow auger.

It is present practice to manufacture hollow augers in sections of predetermined length which are connected together to make the auger longer as the drilling proceeds. The sections should be connected to one another in such a manner that they remain firmly coupled while in the earth so that the lower sections do not become disconnected while the auger is being rotated. The sections should also be easily disconnected after drilling has been completed. Various means have been provided to couple the sections of the hollow auger together. Four coupling devices are shown in the US. patents to Dickinson 3,301,338, Page 2,671,682, Blake 2,032,196, and Harper 2,407,983. All of these couplings have various disadvantages. For example, some of these couplings will tighten under load preventing easy dis-assembly. The couplings employing threads will deteriorate as a result of sand and corrosive conditions.

There is a need for a new coupling which is quicker and easier to use than the couplings presently available. The coupling should lock adjacent auger sections together both axially and radially and should not tighten under drilling loads. In addition, the coupling should be capable of rotating in either direction about its longitudinal axis without danger of coming apart. It is desirable that the coupling be operable in dirty and corrosive environments. It is further desirable that the coupling automatically match the helical flights existing on adjacent auger sections to provide for one continuous uninterrupted flight. The coupling should be less expensive to manufacture than couplings presently available and should be hollow to allow drills and coring devices to pass through without obstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves a coupling for connecting adjacent sections of an earth boring hollow auger. The coupling has an outer sleeve fastened to one end of an auger section for fitting over and receiving an inner sleeve fastened to the end of an adjacent auger section. The outer sleeve has a key welded to its body which extends into the receiving cavity for the inner sleeve and into a bayonet slot in the outer wall of the inner sleeve. The welded key is rotated into a side portion of the bayonet slot and is locked therein by a loose key extending through the outer sleeve and into the remaining free space of the bayonet slot. The helical flights of these adjacent sections are arranged to automatically match together when the loose key and welded key are fitted into the bayonet slot. An access hole is provided in the helical flight to facilitate insertion of the loose key.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a coupling for locking adjacent auger sections together axially and radially without tightening under drilling loads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coupling which is capable of rotating in either direction without coming apart and which is operable in dirty and corroslve environments.

Yet another object of the present invention is a coupling which automatically matches helical flights on adjacent auger sections to provide for one continuous flight.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an illustration of a drilling apparatus for drilling a hole into the ground incorporating the coupling of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view showing two of the sections of FIG. 1 uncoupled.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the outer sleeve of the coupling shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the outer sleeve of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of arrows 4-4.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the outer sleeve of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of arrows 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the loose key show in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the inner sleeve of the coupling shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the inner sleeve shown in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of arrows 8-8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes and understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principle of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a drilling apparatus 11 for drilling a hole 12 in ground 10. Apparatus 11 comprises a cylindrical hollow auger 14 rotatable by a driving head 13. Auger 14 is made up of sections 23, each having a tube 31 with a helical flight 15 secured to the external periphery thereof by welding or the like. As hole 12 is advanced downwardly, sections 23 are added as required.

Fastened to the bottom of hollow auger 14 are drill teeth 16 for digging into the bottom 17 of hole 12. The dirt scrapped and dug from the bottom 17 is conveyed upwardly along flight 15 being confined by sides 18 of the hole as the drill is rotated in the direction of arrow 21. Each section 23 has an outer sleeve 24 fastened to one end of tube 31 by weld 25 extending around the circumference of the tube. The opposite end of each tube 31 has an inner sleeve 26 fastened by weld 27 also extending around the circumference of the tube. Inner sleeves 26 have outside diameters less than the inside diameters of outer sleeves 24 in order that the inner sleeve may be fitted within the outer sleeve thereby coupling each section together. A loose key 28 is slipped between the inner and outer sleeve to secure the sleeves together. A further explanation and description of sleeves 24 and 26 and key 28 will appear later in this specification.

The inner sleeve 26 of the uppermost section fits into driving head 13 and is locked therein by any number of suitable means in order that head 13 and auger 14 may rotate as a unit. Head 13 has a hexagonal drive rod 19 fixedly fastened to drive cap 20 which fits over inner sleeve 26. The power driver 22 fits over rod 19 driving head 13 and auger 14 in the direction of arrow 21 in order to advance hole 12 deeper into ground 10. To retract auger 14 from the ground, driver 22 is rotated in a direction opposite to arrow 21 and the apparatus is lifted.

Driver 22 is not described by this specification or by the accompanying drawing, it being understood that any number of different means may be employed to drive and rotate apparatus 11. Likewise, driver 22, head 13 and anger 14 are not shown connected together in FIG. 1 for illustrative purposes. Of course, in actual use the driver, head and auger would be connected together rotating as a unit.

Auger 14 in conjunction with all outer sleeves 24 and inner sleeves 26 are hollow in order that a shaft may be extended therethrough from driving head 13 to the bottom of the hole. In many cases, it is desirable to obtain a core sample from the bottom of the hole. Thus, a coring device, not shown in the drawing, is fastened to the end of a shaft and is extended down through the interior of auger 14 to bottom 17. During the core sampling process, auger 14 is not rotated and driving head 13 is removed from the auger providing an entrance for the coring device. Auger 14 acts like a casing preventing material, such as dirt, from falling to bottom 17 thereby contaminating the core sample. During the periods of time when the core sample is not required, a rod 30 shown in breakaway sections 29 and 32 of FIG. 1 is extended through auger 14 having a secondary drill 33 leading primary drill 34. Secondary drill 33 has teeth 35 fastened thereto for providing a pilot hole 36 for the primary drill 34. Shaft 30 is composed of various sections, not shown, similarly as auger 14 is composed of sections 23. The sections of shaft 30 allow easy assembly and disassembly of the shaft during the insertion and removal of the shaft from auger 14. The top of shaft 30 is secured by any number of possible means to driving head 13 so that auger 14, head 13 and shaft 30 may rotate as a unit. A plug in lieu of the secondary drill may be fastened to the interior of the primary drill when a coring sample is not required as previously explained.

FIG. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of two sections 23 uncoupled. The left hand section has a tube 31 welded to outer sleeve 24 by weld 25 extending around the junction of the tube and sleeve. Likewise, the right hand section has an inner sleeve 26 welded to tube 3]. Tube 31 may be extended into hole 53 in the end of sleeve 24 and into a large counterbore 54 in the end of sleeve 26 before the sleeves are welded to the tube as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Both sections have a helical flight 15 attached in such a manner so the flight of each section match together when the inner sleeve of one section is fitted into the outer sleeve of another section and key 28 is slipped through keyway 42 and into slot 43 as will be explained.

Outer sleeve 24, shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 has a sleeve body 40 with a plug or welded key 41 welded to the outer surface thereof. Welded key 41 extends through the body wall and into the cylindrical cavity 44, shown more particularly in FIG. 4, which receives inner sleeve 26. A chamfer 45 extends around the opening of cavity 44 to facilitate entrance of the inner sleeve.

Inner sleeve 26 is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 having a sleeve body 46 with a chamfer 47 extending around the outside edge of the open end to provide for easy insertion of the inner sleeve into an outer sleeve. Body 46 has a bayonet slot 43 cut partially through the wall of the body with a narrow rectangular shaped portion 48 located adjacent a smaller rectangular shaped portion 49. An end view of the inner sleeve is shown in FIG. 8 illustrating that slot 43 does not extend through the wall of body 46. Slot 43 receives welded key 41 as the outer sleeve 24 is fitted and slipped into the inner sleeve 26 in the direction of arrow 37 of FIG. 2. The two sleeves are then rotated so that the welded key slides into the small rectangular portion 49 of slot 43. Once the sleeves are fitted together, loose key 28 is slipped into keyway 42 in the direction of arrow 38 of FIG. 2 so as to lock the sleeves together both axially and radially. Key 28, shown in FIG. 6, has a shank 50 and a handle 51. Shank 50 fits into keyway 42 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, loose key 28 fits into the narrow rectangular shaped portion 48 of bayonet slot 43. FIG. shows an end view of the outer sleeve with keyway 42. A key hole 52 is cut into helical flight to allow loose key 28 to be inserted into keyway 42. Keyway 42 has a width and thickness slightly greater than the width and thickness of key 28. The keyway extends from the end of sleeve 24 attached to tube 31, through sleeve 24 to cavity 44. When the inner sleeve is slipped into the outer sleeve and the welded key is in rectangular portion 49 of the bayonet slot, then the loose key is slipped into the keyway and slot 48.

FIG. 1 shows helical flight 15 spiralling downward from left to right with downward rotation of the drilling apparatus in the clockwise direction as viewed looking down. Of course, if the drilling apparatus were rotated downwardly in a counterclockwise direction the helical flight should spiral down from right to left. In either case, the outer and inner sleeves should be designed to allow coupling of any section with the flights of the two sections being matched up automatically as a result of the key connections. FIG. 1 also shows the outer sleeve being located above the inner sleeve. Of course, this invention also includes the reverse. That is, the two sections could be brought together by the outer sleeve being located below the inner sleeve.

FIG. 7 shows bayonet slot 43 shaped so that portion 49 extends to the right of portion 48. Although not shown in the drawing, bayonet slot 43 may be shaped so that portion 49 extends to the left of portion 48. The present invention includes such a left-handed shaped bayonet slot.

Many variations of the described coupling are included in the present invention. For example, it is possible to locate bayonet slot 43 on the inside wall of the outer sleeve instead of on the outside wall of the inner sleeve. Of course, welded key 41 and keyway 42 would then have to be located on the outside wall of the inner sleeve instead of the inside wall of the outer sleeve. The present coupling could of course also be solid instead of hollow in the event that a coring sample was not required.

It will .be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a coupling for locking adjacent sections to one another axially and radially without tightening under drilling loads. It will also be evident that the coupling of the present invention is capable of rotating in either direction without coming apart and is operable in dirty environments. In addition, it will be evident that the present coupling provides for the automatic matching of the helical flights of adjacent sections.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A coupling for a first section and a second section of an earth-boring auger comprising:

a first sleeve for fastening to said first section, said sleeve having a first channel;

a second sleeve for fastening to said second section, said second sleeve having a second channel;

a first key having width and length and being fixedly attached to said first sleeve, said key removably extends into said second sleeve;

a second key having width and length, and being slidably received in a keyway fonned by said first channel and said second channel locking cooperatively with said first key said first sleeve and said second sleeve together axially and radially;

a first helical flight attached to the periphery of said first sleeve;

a second helical flight attached to the periphery of said second sleeve;

said first flight and said second flight forming one continuous flight when said second key extends into said first channel and said second channel and said first key extends into said second sleeve.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein:

said first key and said second key each project inside said first sleeve and into said second sleeve.

3. A section for an earth-boring sectionalized auger having a first end, a second end, an outer sleeve fastened to said first end, an inner sleeve fastened to said second end, said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve having means for receiving a loose key, and a helical flight attached to said section and wherein said inner sleeve has a wall with an outside diameter and a bayonet slot located thereon, said outer sleeve having a wall with an inside diameter greater than said outside diameter and a fixed key extending therefrom, said bayonet slot having a width and thickness and being arranged to receive said loose key, said loose key having a shank with a width less than said width of said slot, said loose key having a handle for grasping.

4, A coupling comprising a first section having a helical flight peripherally attached, a second section into which said first section is telescoped, a first key fixed to one of said sections, the other of said sections having a bayonet slot therein into which said key projects, and a loose key extending into said bayonet slot and into said section having said fixed key retaining said fixed key in said slot.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No; 3,664;4+4 I Dated y 1972 .Inventor(s) William P. Henson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: I

On the Title Page the correct title should be 'CQUPLING INCORPORATING A WELDED K EY AND A LOOSE KEY" I instead Of 'AIR DRILLING METHQD USING-CONTROLLED SPLIT STREAM".

In Column 1, line 1 the same error eppears Signed and sealed this 9th day of April: 197 4;.

(SEAL) 'Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer FORM P0-105O (IO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 h 0.5. covnmanunun-ma omce 1 nu o-au-au 

1. A coupling for a first section and a second section of an earth-boring auger comprising: a first sleeve for fastening to said first section, said sleeve having a first channel; a second sleeve for fastening to said second section, said second sleeve having a second channel; a first key having width and length and being fixedly attached to said first sleeve, said key removably extends into said second sleeve; a second key having width and length, and being slidably received in a keyway formed by said first channel and said second channel locking cooperatively with said first key said first sleeve and said second sleeve together axially and radially; a first helical flight attached to the periphery of said first sleeve; a second helical flight attached to the periphery of said second sleeve; said first flight and said second flight forming one continuous flight when said second key extends into said first channel and said second channel and said first key extends into said second sleeve.
 2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein: said first key and said second key each project inside said first sleeve and into said second sleeve.
 3. A section for an earth-boring sectionalized auger having a first end, a second end, an outer sleeve fastened to said first end, an inner sleeve fastened to said second end, said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve having means for receiving a loose key, and a helical flight attached to said section and wherein said inner sleeve has a wall with an outside diameter and a bayonet slot located thereon, said outer sleeve having a wall with an inside diameter greater than said outside diameter and a fixed key extending therefrom, said bayonet slot having a width and thickness and being arranged to receive said loose key, said loose key having a shank with a width less than said width of said slot, said loose key having a handle for grasping.
 4. A coupling comprising a first section having a helical flight peripherally attached, a second section into which said first section is telescoped, a first key fixed to one of said sections, the other of said sections having a bayonet slot therein into which said key projects, and a loose key extending into said bayonet slot and into said section having said fixed key retaining said fixed key in said slot. 